Mark 12:18-27 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising — have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"
Jesus' statement: You are badly mistaken defines the quintessential difference between the Sadducees' understanding of the Patriarchs and what Jesus was teaching about them. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. The Patriarchs were historical figures: their lives were to be appreciated and understood in the context of their biological existence and significance to the people. For them, the Jewish ethnicity and traditions were what was important about these fathers of their culture. But Jesus said that they were badly mistaken because Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were presently alive in the Spirit. They were with the Father God, not dead in their graves, serving only as memories. Believing this reality by faith is the difference between those who are dead and those who are alive spiritually. The dead follow laws and traditions to govern their lives while the living follow the Spirit of God. Jesus came to introduce life to the people, to tell them that eternal life is theirs if they will only believe in him as the Son of God, accepting that his works will deliver them from the judgment of death. Jesus spoke of this many times as He walked and talked with his disciples and the crowds. He did not come to play verbal games with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He said, I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)
Jesus did not mull over the question the Sadducees put before him about marriage, except to say, Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? Obviously, Jesus implied that God's domain is different from this world of sin where people do not follow his ways. We will be different in heaven, more like the angels. As God is eternal, we will be eternal. Marriage is a construct of our biological nature and earthly needs. This biological existence will end: our spirits will never die. The Sadducees' understanding of the spirit world was very limited, for they did not discern the deep mysteries of God. Their lives revolved around the idea of getting the most out of this world while they were alive. They dealt with ruling over the people and paying attention to outward things. Jesus warned his disciples, Be careful. Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Matthew 16:6) Jesus knew their sin would contaminate what it touched. They enjoyed sitting at the front tables at gatherings; they enjoyed people greeting them in the market place, giving them preferential treatment because of their position in life. They enjoyed wearing robes that distinguished them from ordinary folks. They enjoyed being placed on a pedestal in the eyes of the people. But as with Christians who desire others to appreciate their activities here on Earth, those temporary praises for doing good works or for appearing very wise will be all the reward they will receive from living. In other words, God will not recognize their good deeds with heavenly rewards, for they sought man's praises rather than God's praises. They chose earthly, temporary, accolades instead of God's recognition for serving him as good and faithful servants.
Christians love, worship, and serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As Jesus made clear on that day to all who heard his words, we serve the God of those who are alive with him right now. The host of believers who have gone before are biologically dead, yet they presently reign with God as joint heirs with Christ our Lord. When Jesus spoke of the faith of the centurion who asked him to heal his servant, Jesus describes the great meal in heaven, saying, I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 8:11) Whenever, someone asks you what God you serve. You should say, I am serving the God revealed in the Old and the New Testaments. You are serving the God of the living Patriarchs revealed through his Son, Jesus. Why should you say that? Why not just say, I serve the Christian God? The reason you say you are serving the God of the whole Bible is that God has revealed himself in the total Word. There is not a God of the Old Testament and then a God of the New Testament. You are serving a living God who makes all people alive if they believe in him by faith. Jesus told the Sadducees they were greatly mistaken because they did not believe in a God who makes living, eternal vessels out of human beings. Of course, the Sadducees did not believe in heaven. They did not believe in a world of the Spirit where God exists with his children. Jesus said that world existed, and all can enter eternity's world through him. Of course his claim of eternal life through him drove the Sadducees to madness. How could Jesus claim He could make people eternal beings when no such condition or place existed for them? But we Christians know by faith heaven does exist, and we are destined for our eternal home because of Jesus' works of righteousness, the price He paid for us. We know we are righteous because He did away with our sinful lives, erasing our debt completely. We live because He lives; we live because Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob live. We do serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and we serve him with all we possess! Today, we join that heavenly throng, singing praises to our everlasting King!
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